A Summary of Reported Policies and Procedures of Institutional Plans for Faculty Development of Postsecondary Technical/Vocational Personnel. Professional Improvement Assessment Project.

Lovelace, Bill E.; LaBrecque, Suzanne V.

One phase of a five-phase professional improvement assessment project developed a database that identified the professional improvement needs of postsecondary technical/vocational personnel and the policies and procedures of the institutional plans for faculty development in Texas. Following a review of the literature, a questionnaire was prepared and mailed to the coordinator or director of the institutional plan for faculty development of the 70 campuses of the 55 community colleges and technical districts in Texas; 47 of the districts responded (86 percent). The study found that each of the two-year postsecondary institutions had a functional institutional plan for faculty development. Sixty-four percent of the responding institutions used a committee to advise and/or assist with the professional development activities. The data revealed that policies of the institutional plans provided equal requirements and provisions for technical/vocational personnel and all other professional personnel of the institution. The study reached three conclusions: (1) each institution is making an active and sincere effort to plan and conduct faculty development activities to meet personnel needs; (2) institutions need technical assistance in maintaining a current assessment of the professional development needs of technical/vocational personnel; and (3) there is a need for assistance in planning and conducting activities to meet the identified professional development needs. The study recommended that the research and personnel development activities be continued. (The questionnaire is appended.) (KC)